Patents Examined by Hoon Song
  • Patent number: 10119925
    Abstract: Methods and systems for measuring periodic structures using multi-angle X-ray reflectance scatterometry (XRS) are disclosed. For example, a method of measuring a sample by X-ray reflectance scatterometry involves impinging an incident X-ray beam on a sample having a periodic structure to generate a scattered X-ray beam, the incident X-ray beam simultaneously providing a plurality of incident angles and a plurality of azimuthal angles. The method also involves collecting at least a portion of the scattered X-ray beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Nova Measuring Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Heath A. Pois, David A. Reed, Bruno W. Schueler, Rodney Smedt, Jeffrey T. Fanton
  • Patent number: 10117627
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging system includes a gantry, rotatable about an axis of rotation, a radiation source mounted on the gantry and configured to emit radiation, and one or more detectors configured to detect the emitted radiation. The gantry includes a gear assembly coupled to a motor to enable rotation of the gantry, wherein the gear assembly comprises a gantry gear. The gantry includes an encoder for detecting position of the gantry, wherein the encoder comprises an encoder gear meshed with the gantry gear. The gantry also includes a gear re-engagement assembly configured to couple to the encoder and to force the encoder gear into correct engagement with the gantry gear when the encoder gear becomes disengaged from the gantry gear. As such, the gear re-engagement assembly keeps engagement of the encoder gear and the gantry gear to maintain the important gantry position tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Grant Richard Wagner, Curt Allen Zimmerman, Matthew Jason Evangelist
  • Patent number: 10111629
    Abstract: An imaging stand includes a frame, a plate provided to be movable along the frame, and a fixing device provided in a rear surface of the plate and configured to fix the plate in the frame. The fixing device includes a first pressing part in which a first hole through which the frame penetrates is formed, and a second pressing part that faces the first pressing part, is formed such that a minimum distance to the first pressing part becomes longer from one side to the other side, and in which a second hole through which the frame penetrates is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Suk Hee Won
  • Patent number: 10111642
    Abstract: A positioning device for a mobile x-ray detector, an x-ray device containing such a mobile positioning device, and a method mutually align a mobile x-ray detector and an x-ray emitter in relation to one another. In order to enable exact mutual alignment or positioning of the mobile x-ray detector in relation to the x-ray emitter, a positioning device is used for a mobile x-ray detector. The positioning device contains at least one marker and/or at least one sensor for determining the position and/or the orientation of the positioning device and contains a number of connection elements for establishing a mechanical connection between the positioning device and the mobile x-ray detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Deinlein, Thomas Dippl, Susanne Dornberger, Michael Fuhrmann, Sultan Haider, Ralf Nanke
  • Patent number: 10100974
    Abstract: An X-ray stand includes a device that compensates for distortions caused by weight. The stand includes a horizontal bracket. The device for distortion compensation includes an inclination-angle transmitter that generates an inclination signal as a function of an inclination angle of the bracket. The device also includes a control device that receives the inclination signal from the inclination-angle transmitter, a motor drive that is activated by the control device, and an adjustment device that is driven by the motor drive and is configured to adjust the inclination angle of the bracket. The control device activates the motor drive such that any deviation of the inclination angle of the bracket from a predefined inclination angle is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Franz Fütterer, Harald Graf, Stefan Hesl, Michael Kleber, Jürgen Plannerer, Stefan Popp
  • Patent number: 10092255
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an intraoral sensor for intraoral X-ray photography, and provides an intraoral sensor bending along an intraoral structure during intraoral X-ray photography, wherein the degree of bending of a first region corresponding to a part facing the major axis differs from that of a second region corresponding to the remaining part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: Rayence Co., Ltd., VATECH EWOO Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung-Kyn Heo, Jin-Pyo Chun
  • Patent number: 10092258
    Abstract: A bucky tray for an X-ray imaging apparatus includes a first plate on which an X-ray detecting device is mountable, and a second plate configured to be coupled to the first plate to be movable to at least one of a first location where the X-ray detecting device of a first size is accommodated and a second location where another X-ray detecting device of a second size is accommodated. The X-ray detecting device is configured to be mounted on the bucky tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyoung-choul Jang, Woo-sup Han, Seung-hwan Lee, Jae-won Lee, Min-hyung Chung
  • Patent number: 10079078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing energy spectra of a radiation transmitted by an object irradiated by a source of ionizing radiations, in particular an X radiation, for applications in medical imaging or non-destructive inspection. The method implements a detector comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel being able to establish a spectrum of the radiation transmitted by the object. The method makes it possible, from a plurality of spectra detected, to establish so-called corrected spectra. Each corrected spectrum is an estimation of the spectrum of a radiation, called primary radiation, transmitted by the object. The invention makes it possible to reduce the influence of the scattering, by the object, of the spectrum emitted by the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Commissariat A L'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Artur Sossin, Veronique Rebuffel, Joachim Tabary
  • Patent number: 10073048
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for scanning a structure for detecting variations in density of a structure, the apparatus (10) includes: a source of radiation (20); a plurality of detectors (30), arranged for receiving radiation emitted by the source along a plurality of respective paths (26); the apparatus configured such that, a structure (100) to be scanned is positionable between the detectors and the source; collimation elements (40) including a plurality of collimator channels (42), each located between a respective detector and the source; and collimation adjustment element (60). The apparatus, in a first configuration, provides a first resolution (r1) in an axial direction substantially orthogonal to a plane including the source and plurality of paths; and, in a second configuration, the collimation adjustment element is positioned between the collimation elements and the source such that the apparatus provides a second resolution (r2) in the axial direction; wherein r2<r1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Paul David Featonby, Emanuele Ronchi
  • Patent number: 10064592
    Abstract: A mammographic CT apparatus includes: a gantry, including a front face plate having an insertion opening for inserting a breast into an accommodation portion; a radiation tube disposed within the gantry; a sensing device disposed within the gantry so as to face the radiation tube, to detect radiation which has been emitted from the radiation tube and been transmitted through the accommodation portion; a driving unit to rotate the radiation tube and the sensing device around a rotation axis set in the normal direction of the insertion opening, at the same angular speed and same direction; and a collimator configured to rotate around the rotation axis synchronously with the radiation tube and sensing device. The collimator is disposed near the accommodation portion, and an irradiation region of radiation emitted from the radiation tube is restricted such that a breast inserted to the accommodation portion is irradiated to the tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junya Kawase, Takeo Tsukamoto, Nobuhiro Ito
  • Patent number: 10058291
    Abstract: Provided is a radiographic apparatus with safety and time-saved imaging upon inclination of a subject without pulling an external instrument by the subject. In the radiographic apparatus, a top board supporting the subject placed thereon is rotatable and liftable. The characteristic feature of the embodiment is to control a level of an intersection of the top board and a line connecting an X-ray tube to an FPD to be constant in association with operation of a top-board rotation controller. This achieves a constant level of a region of interest (a site to be imaged) of the subject regardless of rotation of the top board. Consequently, an invariable distance is obtainable between the subject and the external instrument on the floor, allowing suppression in pulling of the external instrument due to a vertical movement of the subject. As a result, provision of a radiographic apparatus with safety and time-saved imaging is obtainable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10058299
    Abstract: In a radiation imaging system, which obtains a radiation image of an object based on a plurality of image signals, includes a radiation imaging apparatus, which includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, configured to convert an irradiated radiation transmitted through an object into an image signal serving as a partial image of the object. In the radiation imaging system, a holding unit for holding the radiation imaging apparatus holds the radiation imaging apparatus to be movable in a direction intersecting a direction in which positions to obtain a plurality of partial images are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motoki Tagawa, Akiya Nakayama
  • Patent number: 10055833
    Abstract: A reflective mask inspection system comprises a short wavelength radiation source for irradiating a reflective mask. A detector system detects the short wavelength radiation reflected from the reflective mask and a controller compares reflectance images of the reflective mask from the detector to characterize the mask. The system analyzes the spatially resolved reflectance characteristics of the substrate from different angles with respect to normal to the substrate and/or at different angles of rotation of the substrate. This information can be used to then analyze the mask for buried defects and then characterize those defects. This technique improves over current systems that rely on atomic force microscopes, which can only provide surface information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss SMT GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Hendrik Peters, Frederik Blumrich, Anthony Garetto, Thomas Scherübl, Renzo Capelli
  • Patent number: 10056222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotating anode (100) comprising: an outer ring compound (6) comprising a first carbon material with a first material property and carbon fibers substantially aligned to a contour of the outer ring compound (6), wherein the outer ring compound (6) is configured to mechanically stabilize the rotating anode (100); an intermediate ring compound (5) comprising a second carbon material with a second material property differing from the first material property; a inner disc compound (2) comprising a layered fiber structure and a third carbon material with a third material property differing from the first and the second material property, wherein the inner disc compound (2) and the intermediate ring compound (5) are configured to provide a thermally conductive interface between the intermediate ring compound (5) and the inner disc compound (2); and an interface compound (3) comprising a metallic or a semi-metallic material, wherein the interface compound is coupled to the intermedi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Peter Klaus Bachmann, Hans Joachim Meys, Gereon Vogtmeier, Christoph Tobias Wirth
  • Patent number: 10051718
    Abstract: Provided are a mobile X-ray apparatus configured to control an operation of a protection circuit for protecting the lithium ion battery during X-ray emission and a method of operating the mobile X-ray apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Myeong-je Kim
  • Patent number: 10048313
    Abstract: Systems and methods for semiconductor design evaluation. IC layout information of a circuit design is received, and the circuit design is decomposed into smaller circuit pieces. Each circuit piece has IC layout information and a netlist. For each circuit piece, a set of strike models is selected based on the layout information and the net-list of the circuit piece and received radiation environment information. Each strike model has circuit components with voltage values corresponding to a respective particle strike. For each selected strike model of a circuit piece: a radiation susceptibility metric is determined by comparing functional results of simulation of the of the strike model with functional results of simulation of the circuit piece. For each circuit piece, a radiation susceptibility metric is determined based on the radiation susceptibility metrics generated for each selected strike model of the circuit piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Lucid Circuit, Inc.
    Inventor: Michel D Sika
  • Patent number: 10039517
    Abstract: An X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray generator configured to transmit X-rays to an object, an X-ray detector configured to detect the X-rays transmitted through the object and convert the detected X-rays into electrical signals, a gantry in which the X-ray generator and the X-ray detector are installed so as to be opposite to each other, the gantry being rotatable about a bore, a controller configured to control a rotation of the gantry during bio-signal cycles of the object so that the gantry is rotated from different start positions whenever one of the bio-signal cycles is started, and an image processor configured to generate a 4D image of the object by applying a prior image-based compressed sensing image reconstruction algorithm to plural 2D projection images acquired from the electrical signals generated by converting the X-rays detected during the rotation of the gantry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., Korea Advanced Institute Of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Ji Young Choi, Jong Ha Lee, Young Hun Sung, Yunjeong Lee, Seungryong Cho
  • Patent number: 10043294
    Abstract: An image processing device that includes: an acquiring section that acquires a plurality of projection images in which a subject between a radiation detector and a radiation applying unit has, as a result of the radiation applying unit being moved to thereby change an angle of incidence, with respect to the subject, of radiation applied from the radiation applying unit, been imaged at each different angle of incidence; a processing section that performs frequency processing that attenuates, relative to a high-frequency component, a low-frequency component of projection images in which the angle of incidence is equal to or greater than a first threshold; and a tomographic image generating section that generates tomographic images of the subject by image reconstruction from projection images in which the angle of incidence is less than the first threshold and from the frequency-processed projection images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10028711
    Abstract: A marker-coordinate detecting unit detects coordinates of a stent marker on a new image when the new image is stored in an image-data storage unit; and then a correction-image creating unit creates a correction image from the new image through, for example, image transformation processing, so as to match up the detected coordinates with reference coordinates that are coordinates of the stent marker already detected by the marker-coordinate detecting unit in a first frame. An image post-processing unit then creates an image for display by performing post-processing on the correction image created by the correction-image creating unit, the post-processing including high-frequency noise reduction filtering-processing, low-frequency component removal filtering-processing, and logarithmic-image creating processing; and then a system control unit performs control of displaying a moving image of an enlarged image of a set region that is set in the image for display, together with an original image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Toshiba Medical Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Sakaguchi, Kyojiro Nambu, Hisato Takemoto
  • Patent number: 10028709
    Abstract: An arrangement with a movable apparatus part is provided. The arrangement includes a mat-like, removable collision detection device arranged on the apparatus part and a plurality of first fasteners of the collision detection device. The plurality of first fasteners are configured to form a releasable connection with corresponding second fasteners of the apparatus part. The arrangement also includes an electrical monitoring unit configured to monitor an electrical resistance of the connection of the plurality of first fasteners to the second fasteners. A medical imaging apparatus with such an arrangement, and an associated method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Verena Schmidt